Friday, 26 November 2010

British National Party MEP Nick Griffin has challenged all British Members of the European Parliament to donate their “obscene” backdated pay rise to pensioner charities.

“The early winter cold is going to kill thousands of British pensioners, including war veterans, their wives and widows,” Mr Griffin said.

“It will be disgusting for British MEPs to pocket the backdated to July 2009 pay rise approved yesterday after EU judges ruled in favour of the increase.

“It comes at a time when greedy energy companies are forcing millions into fuel poverty and savage government cuts are being imposed on essential services,” Mr Griffin continued.

“I challenge all 72 British MEPs to donate the full amount of this pay rise to pensioner-related charities.

“I don’t expect all of them to do so, as the recent Dispatches programme proved many of them have their snouts firmly in the trough.

“But I do look for at least eleven others to join me to make it a traditional British dozen,” Mr Griffin continued.

“Since Andrew Brons, BNP MEP for Yorkshire and the Humberside, has already agreed to do so, that leaves a minimum of ten more decent MEPs to make the same gesture.

“This will amount to a combined donation of £54,000, which will make a real difference this Christmas to hundreds of pensioners. And every extra MEP joining us in doing the right thing will help dozens more,” he said.

“More importantly than money however, is the fact that such a move would reveal that at least part of the political class understands the need to show solidarity with normal people.

“It is time for us to set an example.

“I challenge in particular those MEPs who voted against this obscene pay rise to put their money where their mouth is.

“It is very easy to make a show of voting against a pay rise that you are sure the Euro pig majority will pass. Some might find it a little harder to part with their ‘unwanted’ windfall,” Mr Griffin concluded.